Shloka 15

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Request to See Māyā and the Vision of the Cosmic Deluge

Devanagari script

सक्ष्मान्तरिक्षं सदिवं सभागणं त्रैलोक्यमासीत् सह दिग्भिराप्लुतम् । स एक एवोर्वरितो महामुनि- र्बभ्राम विक्षिप्य जटा जडान्धवत् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

sa-kṣmāntarikṣaṁ sa-divaṁ sa-bhā-gaṇaṁ trai-lokyam āsīt saha digbhir āplutam sa eka evorvarito mahā-munir babhrāma vikṣipya jaṭā jaḍāndha-vat

Translation

สายน้ำท่วมท้นปกคลุมแผ่นดิน อากาศ สวรรค์ และแดนทิพย์ของเหล่าเทพ; ไตรโลกพร้อมทิศทั้งปวงถูกท่วมไปทั่ว. ในหมู่สรรพชีวิตเหลือเพียงมหามุนีมารกัณฑेय; ผมชฎากระเซิง เขาเร่ร่อนเดียวดายในน้ำประหนึ่งคนใบ้และคนตาบอด.

Synonyms

• sa-kṣmā-antarikṣam: (the world) with earth and atmosphere
• sa-kṣmā-antarikṣam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + kṣmā + antarikṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; अव्ययीभावः with saha-/sa- meaning 'along with'

• sa-divam: with heaven
• sa-divam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + diva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; 'with heaven'

• sa-bhā-gaṇam: with the hosts of luminaries
• sa-bhā-gaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa + bhā + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; interpreted as 'with hosts of luminaries' (bhā = light/luminary)

• trai-lokyam: the three worlds
• trai-lokyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; द्विगु (three worlds as a collective)

• āsīt: was, became
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable governing instrumental

• digbhiḥ: with the directions (quarters)
• digbhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/सहचर)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural (diś → digbhiḥ)

• āplutam: flooded, submerged
• āplutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-plu (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; agreeing with trai-lokyam

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• ekaḥ: alone
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; qualifying saḥ

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• urvaritaḥ: left over, remaining
• urvaritaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: urvarita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; predicate adjective of saḥ

• mahā-muniḥ: the great sage
• mahā-muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; कर्मधारयः (mahān muniḥ)

• babhrāma: wandered about
• babhrāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhram (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• vikṣipya: having tossed about
• vikṣipya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)

• jaṭāḥ: matted locks
• jaṭāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Plural (object of vikṣipya)

• jaḍa-andha-vat: like a dull blind man
• jaḍa-andha-vat: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: jaḍa + andha + vat (प्रातिपदिक/तद्धित)
• Form: Simile indeclinable with -vat (वत्) meaning 'like'; internal tatpuruṣa (jaḍaś ca andhaś ca) used as base

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the universe being flooded (pralaya)?

This verse describes an all-pervading inundation in which earth, sky, heaven, the demigods’ realms, and all directions are submerged—highlighting the overwhelming power of cosmic dissolution and the fragility of worldly supports.

Why is Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi described as wandering like one bewildered and blind?

In the narrative, Mārkaṇḍeya is placed within an extraordinary, illusory experience of dissolution; the verse emphasizes how even a great sage can appear disoriented when confronted with the Lord’s incomprehensible māyā.

Practical application of this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

It urges humility and spiritual grounding: when life’s certainties feel “flooded” by crisis or change, one should take shelter of devotion and steady remembrance of the Lord rather than relying solely on worldly structures.